Report reveals details which will see Newcastle fan favourite depart in January

Newcastle United will allow striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to leave the club in January if they receive a worthy cash offer or a loan deal with a permanent signing clause included, according to a report.

The Chronicle claim on their website that the Serbian striker is very much up for sale in the winter window but will only leave on the Magpies’ terms, as he is just one of three senior strikers at the club.

Manager Rafael Benitez is said to know that letting the Newcastle fans’ favourite leave would represent a huge risk and it is for that reason they will not entertain any offers which do not work in the Magpies’ favour.

He has just five appearances for the Magpies this season with not a single start in the league, and is contracted on Tyneside until 2020.

Football Insider verdict

Newcastle simply cannot allow Mitrovic to depart without having a replacement lined up or already in at the club, despite Benitez’s reluctance to utilise him in the first team set up. Suspension or an injury blow, something which is quite possible with Dwight Gayle as one of the other options up front, could promote Mitrovic to second choice or even the first choice striker between now and the January window, and so it is touch and go whether he departs at all. Newcastle have to make sure they are as prepared as possible for the second half of the season, and if the deal is right, then Mitrovic could bring in some much needed funds to reinvest.